Joie de Vivre to Debut in NYC

NEW YORK—Joie de Vivre Hotels will open its first NYC property, Hotel 50 Bowery, this winter.

“Establishing a presence in Manhattan is a seminal moment in the expansion of Joie de Vivre Hotels,” said Niki Leondakis, CEO of Commune Hotels & Resorts. “When deciding where we’d plant our first flag, Chinatown was a natural fit—not just because it is a gateway to many Manhattan locations, but because of the neighborhood’s distinct spirit. Hotel 50 Bowery will be a vivid expression of this dynamic community and its rich history.”

The 229-room hotel is inspired by the Lower Manhattan community and culture. For instance, the work of local artists Lowell Boyers, Simone Shubuck and André Saraiva will be displayed in the guestrooms. Additionally, The Gallery, a permanent exhibit from the Museum of Chinese in America, will be curated by Herb Tam, who works for the museum. A partnership facilitated by hotel ownership, the exhibit will showcase many of the artifacts that were found on the hotel’s construction site, highlighting its history—taverns, a gambling den, and vaudeville and motion picture theaters all called the hotel’s location home from the 1700s through the early 1900s. The exhibit is adjacent to a 5,000-sq.-ft. outdoor space, the Atlantic Garden, named after the historical beer hall that occupied the site in the 1850s.

The hotel will also offer 1,900 sq. ft. of indoor function space as well as outdoor public spaces on the second floor and rooftop.

Three different culinary concepts by chef Dale Talde and his partners at Three Kings Restaurant Group will be available at the hotel: a 220-seat, contemporary Asian restaurant, Rice & Gold, which will be located on the lobby level; Goldie’s, a cellar-level lounge serving dim-sum-style bites with live entertainment inspired by its opium-den theme; and a 21st-floor rooftop bar, named [email protected]

The management and ownership teams appointed Wimberly Interiors to lead the design of the hotel, weaving in influences from Chinese culture and the surrounding neighborhood, according to the company. Materials in the lobby, such as poured concrete and exposed brick, are punctured by Asian-influenced furniture. Guestroom corridors reflect an old Chinese village at night with large, bold artwork from Beijing-based graffiti artist Dake Wong. Other design elements in guestrooms and suites include subway tiles and a color palette inspired by traditional chinaware like blue and white, which infuse the hand-plastered headboard wall.

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